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Curzon
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Curzon

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November 19th, 2006

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Korea admits Tokyo War Crimes Tribunals Void?

Via the Marmot (here and here), the Korean government Truth Commission on Forced Mobilization under the Japanese Imperialism has cleared 83 of 148 Koreans convicted by the Allies of war crimes during World War II. On what grounds? Turns out the Koreans were victims of Japanese imperialism, suffering the “double pain”Â? of forced mobilization and becoming a war criminal.

In essence, all those reviewed by the commission were cleared. Only 86 names were looked at by the commission; a judgment on the other three will follow investigations by local government bodies. Of the 148 Koreans convicted of war crimes, 23 were executed.

The irony here is obvious. Korea has just confirmed what what Japanese rightists have been saying all along: that the Tokyo Trials were a sham. The difference is that Japan recognizes the outcome without question, reaffirmed by treaty. But perhaps they should follow Korea’s example? At the very least, Korea is undermining the credibility of the trials for future politicians who may decide to challenge their validity.

Journalist Mike Breen has this to say:

By what authority does the Truth Commission have to remove their individual responsibility with its class act defense of nationality? Such skewed morality led to the crimes against the lowest class “prisoners”Â? in the first place. People who committed crimes against humanity are not innocent by virtue of being Korean any more than Japanese who brutalized Koreans are innocent by virtue of being Japanese.

I’ve written on numerous occasions that Korea’s take on history is warped, regarding both Japanese colonial and the US presence since the Korean War. Welcome to yet another exhibit.

Comments to this entry

Joe
November 19, 2006
3:33 am
Wow. Reading the comments at the Marmot reminds me of why I stopped reading the comments... can we say "Asia rage?"
The Marmot
November 19, 2006
9:24 am
Come on, Joe. You know you like 'em :)
MikeS
November 19, 2006
11:16 pm
Most East Asians take of history is so warped by nationalism it would almost be funny, except for the brutal lesson of WWI.
Durf
November 20, 2006
6:56 am
I for one would like to hear what Tojo Yuko has to say about all of this.
sunbin
November 20, 2006
3:23 pm
"admits"? i thought you are quoting from the rightist paper:)
tdaxp
December 8, 2006
9:35 pm
South Korea's Dangerous Political Immaturity

"Korean War Criminals Cleared," by Robert J. Koehler, The Marmot's Hole, 13 November 2006, http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/11/13/korean-war-criminals-cleared/ (from Coming Anarchy).

"Panel issues list of pro-Japan collaborators," Yonhap News, 6 D...
Dan tdaxp
December 8, 2006
9:35 pm
The South Koreans are at it again.

South Korean democracy seems about as developed as Iraqi democracy. For the Iraqi people, that's a great accomplishment. For the South Korean people, it's a travesty.

A consequence of this is that just as many Americans should be put at risk for South Korea as should be put at risk for Iraq: zero.